Waco, Texas UV Index
Waco UV index today — burn time, EPA scale, and sun-protection guidance
Waco, TX · UV Index right now
Skin burns in ~34 min
UV 3.9Moderate
A UV index of 3.9 means unprotected skin can begin to burn in roughly 23 minutes for the most sun-sensitive skin types (Fitzpatrick type I).
Peak UV today: 11:35 AM–3:35 PM
Estimated from today’s sunrise and sunset: UV is strongest in the two hours either side of solar noon (1:35 PM local time).
EPA UV Index scale
Current reading: UV 3.9 — Moderate.
Sun protection right now
- SPF & cover-up
- Wear SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses; seek shade near midday.
- Reapply
- Reapply every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.
- Safe exposure
- Unprotected fair-to-medium (Fitzpatrick III) skin can begin to burn in about 34 minutes at this UV level. Sunscreen, shade, and cover-up extend that window.
EPA / WHO sun-safety guidance; type III skin baseline. Current band: Moderate.
Burn time by skin type
The current UV index is 3.9 (Moderate) — unprotected skin can begin to redden fastest for the fairest (Fitzpatrick type I) skin and slowest for the darkest (type VI).
See the full minutes-to-burn table for every UV level and all six skin types in the sunburn-time guide.
Sun protection for today's UV
Weather Story is a participant in the Amazon Associates program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. Product picks are editorial; the links above are affiliate links.
UV through the year in Waco
Waco’s subtropical latitude keeps the sun high for much of the year, and UV runs strongest in May, when the estimated clear-sky peak UV index reaches about 12 around solar noon. At that peak the noon sun reaches about 77° above the horizon. Each month below pairs the noon sun elevation with the estimated peak UV and how fast unprotected skin can begin to redden.
| Month | Noon sunelevation | Peak UVclear-sky est. | Type Imin to burn | Type IIImin to burn | Type VImin to burn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 4 | 22 | 33 | 111 |
| February | 46° | 6 | 15 | 22 | 74 |
| March | 56° | 8 | 11 | 17 | 56 |
| April | 68° | 10 | 9 | 13 | 44 |
| May | 77° | 12 | 7 | 11 | 37 |
| June | 82° | 12 | 7 | 11 | 37 |
| July | 80° | 12 | 7 | 11 | 37 |
| August | 72° | 11 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| September | 61° | 9 | 10 | 15 | 49 |
| October | 50° | 7 | 13 | 19 | 63 |
| November | 40° | 4 | 22 | 33 | 111 |
| December | 35° | 3 | 30 | 44 | 148 |
Clear-sky estimate from sun angle and elevation — day-to-day clouds and ozone shift the real index up or down. Burn times are first-redness approximations for unprotected skin, not a safe-exposure budget.
Frequently asked
- When is UV strongest in Waco?
- In Waco the sun rides highest around May, when the estimated clear-sky peak UV index reaches about 12. Within any day it peaks near solar noon — roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. It is also stronger at higher elevation and near reflective surfaces like water, sand, and snow.
- Can you get sunburned on a cloudy day in Waco?
- Yes. Up to about 80% of UV radiation passes through clouds, so you can still burn in Waco on an overcast day. The WHO notes that thin or scattered cloud offers little protection — check the UV Index, not the sky.
UV & sun-safety guides
See how the UV Index works — including why clouds are no shield — plus evergreen guides to burn time, vitamin D, skin-cancer risk, and when UV is strongest, collected on the UV Index hub.
More for Waco
See the full Waco, TX weather forecast — hour-by-hour outlook, NOAA radar, satellite, and air quality.